Novena to St. Paul The Apostle of Love— Day 2

Oops I have been away too long. Here is the second day, sorry if I caused you to skip the day. If for some reason you skip any of the days, just be sure to start over. I believe that any day is good day to start a novena.

DAY 2
Special request: Achieving and maintaining peace in our families and communities.

Prayer

St. Paul, as you stand before the Father and the Lord Jesus in eternity, pray for us unceasingly just as you prayed for the Ephesians when you were on Earth. Pray that we gain wisdom and knowledge. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts so we can see the world as God sees it. As you bend your knees before the Father in heaven, pray for our families here on earth that we may live in harmony as we grow in the humility, gentleness, patience and the love (Eph 4:1) that comes from the Holy Spirit. If we are angry let it be without sin and never let the sun go down on our anger (Eph 4:26). St Paul, beloved apostle pray that we be delivered from “all bitterness, wrath, angry shouting slander and malice” (Eph 4:31) If we are frightened by the powers of darkness and sin help us put on the armor of Christ (Eph 6:14-17). When we are afflicted may we unite our sufferings to Christ just as you did but, if it is God’s will, deliver us quickly from our sorrows so that they might never crush us, who are so weak, and we might sing the praises of God for his mercy towards us. Help us to be rooted and established in love so that we can gain some understanding of the height, breath and depth of Christ’s love for us that surpasses our imagination. When we feel alone, misunderstood and even abandoned it will be this knowledge that will give us inner strength and power so that we might walk in love (Eph 5:2) all the days of our lives. Amen.

Our Father
Hail Mary

Glory be

Background

Paul wrote the Epistle to the Ephesians to help them focus on heavenly matters and at the same time he addressed practical ways for a person to grow in the love of God and neighbor. While in Ephesus Paul performed many miracles, won many converts, overcame demons, and caused the pagans to riot as they saw the source of their temple income begin to dry up.

St. Paul’s Prayers and Thoughts:

Ephesians 1:16-19 “I give unceasing thanks and mention you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation by which you’ll come to a knowledge of Him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened so you’ll come to know what the hope is to which He calls you, how rich the glorious heritage which will be shared among the saints, and how extraordinary is his great power for us who believe.”

Ephesians 3:13-19 “Therefore I ask you not to lose heart because of the afflictions I’m suffering on your behalf – this is your glory.”
“Because of this I bend my knees to the Father. From him every family in the heavens and on earth is named, so that from the riches of his glory He may grant you inner strength and power through His Spirit. May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, firmly rooted and established in love, so that with all the saints you may be able to understand the breath, the height, and the depth, and know Christ’s love which surpasses all knowledge so that you may be filled with God’s fullness. Now to Him, Who is able to do so much more than we can ask for or imagine, by the power of the work in us, to Him be glory in the Church in Christ Jesus for all generations forever and ever, Amen.”